Coyne on Arcade Fire: "They're Pricks, So Fuck 'Em"

Some might hear an Arcade Fire song-- all that sweeping sincerity and gusto!-- and guess that the band is a little pompous in real life. They're rock'n'roll saviors, dammit! Well, according to Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne, Arcade Fire are actually a lot pompous in real life. At least that's what he told __ Rolling Stone__in a recent interview. (Via Stereogum.)

Here's the humorously antagonistic quote:

*I'm a fan of them on one level, but on another level I get really tired of their pompousness. We've played some shows with them and they really treat people like shit. Whenever I've been around them, I've found that they not only treated their crew like shit, they treated the audience like shit. They treated everybody in their vicinity like shit. I thought, "Who do they think they are?" I don't know why people put up with it. I wouldn't put up with it. I don't care if it's Arcade Fire or Brian Eno. If either of them walked into a room and treated people like shit I'd be like, "Fuck you, get outta here."

People treat Arcade Fire like they're the greatest thing ever and they get away with it. Those sort of opinions change my view of their music. They have good tunes, but they're pricks, so fuck 'em. Who does Arcade Fire think they are? I've been around groups. I've been around the Edge from U2 and he's the fucking sweetest guy ever. I was around Justin Timberlake when he was young and he was just a normal, nice, kind person. Anyone can be polite and kind and people who have the privilege and money and attention should understand that. If they don't, then fuck 'em.*

This isn't the first time Coyne has called out some of his fellow musicians, of course. Talking to __ The Guardian__about one-time tour mate Beck in 2003, he said, "When you hear his songs, you think he must really have some tender feelings, but then you find out it's a made-up thing." And in an interview with __ The Daily Starlast year he managed to slag Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, Razorlight, and Duffy without taking a breath. Either he's trying to apply for __ NME's __ __ editor-in-chief position or dude simply does not give a shit. It's incredible.

UPDATE: Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett has entered the fray! He Tweeted (is that a word?): "Win might not be all hugs and rainbows and kittens, but neither is he drug culture, confetti, pot paraphernalia and bullshit." Ooohhhh!